Portable photographic dark room.



N0. 643,322, Patented Feb. I3, I900.

- L. 8. BOX.

PORTABLE PHUTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

Wiigzsszs THE "cams Pzrzfls co, PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. 0 cv No. 643,322. Patented Feb. [3, I900.

, L. c. c0x.

PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

(Applicafiion filed Apr. 13, 1899.)

2 SheeisShe-et 2.

(No Model.)

pp. w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOREN C. COX, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF 'IWVO-FIFTI-IS TC HENRY L. 'WHIPPLE, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,322, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed April 13, 1 8 99.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOREN C. COX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Portable Dark Room, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a portable photographic dark room or plate-changing bag, and has for its object to provide a simple, comparatively inexpensive, and efficient device of this class which may be compactly folded for transportation and which is of light ma terials, adapting it for ready manipulation, and particularly to provide a device of this class wherein the head of the operator during the operation of inspecting the interior of the dark room is arranged exteriorly of the apparatus to allow freedom in breathing, the opening through which the interior is inspected being efiiiciently guarded to prevent access of light.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide the outer edge of an inspection-opening with yieldable material to receive direct contact of the face of the operator; but in the present instance the inspection-opening is provided with a flexible extension provided at its outer edge with a flexible and inelastic strip or wire of metal which may be bent to various shapes to conform to the contours of different operators faces, and thus to positively exclude light.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dark room constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the blanket in its spread condition. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of the frame respectively in the normal and partly-folded positions. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the eyeframe or stretcher by which the shield of the inspection-opening is held in operative position. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the joint between the spider-arms and the center piece or coupling. Fig.7 is a detail view of one of the members of the center or coupling.

Serial No. 712,874. (No model.)

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of one side of the eye-frame to show the arrangement of the cushion.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The apparatus embodying my invention consists, essentially, of a frame or stretcher and a blanket or flexible wall or covering of suitablelight-excludingmaterial. Said frame is of skeleton construction, comprising terminal spiders having radial arms 1 and connecting-bars 2,arranged between said spiders, the whole being constructed to fold into compact form for transportation. In the construction illustrated each spider consists of a plurality of arms pivoted at their inner ends to a winged center piece 3, the outer corners of said arms at the ends adjacent to the center piece being rounded, while the inner corners are square to form stops for limiting the inwardswinging movement of the arms. Also the connecting-bars 2 are of channeled construction, consisting of strips doubled transversely to form longitudinal channels or grooves, in which the outer extremities of the arms 1 are fitted and pivoted. When not in use, the frame may be folded or collapsed by swinging the inner ends of the arms inwardly to carry said center pieces 3 toward the center of the space within the frame, as indicated in Fig. 4:, thus causing the flat bars of which the arms are formed to lie in the channels of the connecting-bars. To prevent this folding movement of the parts of the frame, I employ a clasp-ring 4, mounted to slide upon one of the arms and adapted to engage those wings of the-center piece to which the inner end of said arm is pivoted. To form the cross-sectionally-angular dark room shown in the drawings, I construct the frame with four wings, each consisting of parallel arms 1 and a connecting-bar 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The blanket or covering which is applied to the above-described frame to form the walls of the dark room consists of a main fold or body portion 5, alined side folds 6 and 7, and alined end flaps 8 and 9, said main fold being adapted to form the bottom of the receptacle, the side folds to form the side and top walls of the receptacle, and the end flaps to form the end walls. To connect the free edges of the side folds, they are provided, respectively, with complemental fastening devices, such as buttonholes 10 and buttons 11, although it will be understood that I do not desire to be limited to any specific form of fastener. Also the extremity of the side fold 7 is preferably provided with frame-engaging hooks 12, which are of particular use in rolling the blanket or covering around the folded frame when the apparatus is arranged for setting up. In these side folds are formed hand openings 13, and in communication therewith are sleeves 14, having contractile wrist portions fitted with a suitable elastic band for forming a snug contact with the wrist or arm of the operator.

The end flaps are provided with upturned or perpendicularly-disposed edge portions or flanges 15, at the corners of which are arranged elastic gores l6,and fastening devices, such as buttons 17, are also employed for securing said flanges at intermediate points to the adjacent side edges of the folds 6 and 7.

Obviously the contractile effect of the elastic gores serves to insure a light-excluding joint between the end flaps and the adjacent portions of the blanket or cover. In one of the end flaps is arranged a light-admitting medium, of ruby glass or celluloid, the same preferably having, as shown, a plurality of panes 18 removably fitted in a frame 19, whereby they maybe replaced when broken, and a curtain 20 may also be attached to modify the quantity of light admitted. In the other flap is formed an inspection-opening 21, communicating with a flexible shield 22, to the outer end of which is attached an eye-frame or stretcher 23, constructed of pliable metal or equivalent material, whereby it may be bent to conform accurately to the contour of the nose and adjacent portions of the face of the operator. This frame is cushioned and may be provided at its inner side with a rubber sack 24, adapted to be inflated to form a pneumatic cushion, and the surface of this cushion is covered with black velvet or other material suitable for forming a light-excluding contact with the face of the operator. Attached to the opposite ends of the stretcher or eye-frame is a head-band 25, designed to extend around the head of the operator and having a suitable adjusting device 26.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the frame is capable of being folded into a compact bundle, around which the blanket or cover may be wrapped or rolled. When the parts are set up, as described, the operator while viewing the interior of the receptacle may use both hands in manipulating the plates therein, and it is obvious that the size of the receptacle may be made to suit the requirements of its use. The hand-openings are arranged near the lower edges of the side walls to give greater freedom of movement, and the flexible shield by which the eye-frame is connected with the front wall of the receptacle allows movement of the head of the operator Without affecting the efficiency of the light-excluding means.

An important advantage of the construction of frame or stretcher which I have illustrated consists in the fact that the members thereof are arranged, respectively, parallel with and adjacent to the walls of the receptacle, and thus leave the entire interior of said receptacle open or unobstructed for the manipulation of the plates.

It will be understood, furthermore, that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A portable dark room having a collapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame having terminal spiders consisting of pivotal radial arms, and grooved connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of the spiders and pivotally connected thereto, said bars being adaptedto receive their respective spiderarms, substantially as specified.

2. A portable dark room havingacollapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame consisting of terminal spiders having radial arms, winged centers upon which the inner ends of said arms are pivotally mounted, and grooved connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of the spiders and pivotally connected thereto, said arms being adapted to lie at times in the grooves of their respective bars, substantially as specified.

3. A portable dark room having a collapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame comprising terminal pivotally-armed spiders, and channeled connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of the spiders, substantially as specified.

4. A portable dark room having a collapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame comprising terminal spiders having radial arms, winged centers to which the inner ends of said arms are pivoted, the arms having abrupt terminal faces for limiting the pivotalmovement thereof in one direction, and connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of said spiders and pivotally mounted thereon, substantially as specified.

5. A portable dark room having a collapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame comprising terminal spiders having radial arms, winged centers to which the inner ends of said arms are pivoted, the arms having abrupt terminal faces for limiting the pivotal movement thereof in one direction, means for securing said arms against pivotal movement in the other direction, and connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of said spiders and pivotally mounted thereon, substantially as specified.

6. A portable dark room having a collapsible skeleton frame and a flexible blanket or covering held in place thereby, said frame comprising terminal spiders having radial arms, winged centers to which the inner ends of said arms are pivoted, the arms having abrupt terminal faces for limiting the pivotal movement thereof in one direction, and a clasp-spring fitted to slide upon one of said arms and adapted to engage the adjacent wings of the cente'r,to secure said arms against pivotal movement in the other direction, and connecting-bars between the corresponding arms of said spiders and pivotally mounted thereon, substantially as specified.

7. In a portable dark roorn,the combination with a supporting-frame, of a blanket or fiexible covering inclosing said frame and having main and side folds, and end flaps, the side folds being provided with means for connecting their free edges, and the end flaps being provided with upturned edges for inclosing the adjacent edges of the side folds, the adjacent ends of the upturned edges of each end flap having elastic connections, substantially as specified.

8. In aportable dark room, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a blanket or flexible covering inclosing said frame and having main and side folds, and end flaps, the side folds being provided with means for connecting their free edges, and the end flaps being provided with upturned contractile edges or flanges for embracing the adjacent edges of the side folds, the adjacent ends of the upturned edges of each end flap having elastic connections, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOREN C. COX.

Witnesses:

W. P. MARTINDALE, RoY I-I. JARRETT. 

